How to pronounce colleague
Say it like KOL-eeg. Colleague has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce colleague. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOL
- eeg
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Colleague pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eegKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of colleague
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOL-eeg.
What does colleague mean?
- an associate that one works with
- a person who is member of one's class or profession“the surgeon consulted his colleagues”“he sent e-mail to his fellow hackers”
Where does colleague come from?
From Middle French collegue, from Latin collēga (“a partner in office”), from com- (“with”) + lēgō (“to send on an embassy”), from lēx (“law”).
Questions about saying colleague
How do you pronounce colleague?
Say KOL-eeg. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑliɡ/. In British English it is /ˈkɒliːɡ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in colleague?
Colleague has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOL). Broken into parts: KOL · eeg.
Is colleague pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒliːɡ/ (KOL-eeg).